It all started with the BIG question on the table. How do we make L&D visible in our organizations—and actually get recognized for the value we bring?
It quickly became clear this touches a nerve for all of us. We hesitate to promote ourselves because it feels too "salesy," like we're used car salesmen. But here's the truth—if we don't advocate for our work, no one else will. And we've all been there: when something goes wrong, training gets blamed. When it goes right? Crickets.
The conversation turned to building a real department brand. Some in the group already have mission statements and logos in place, while others are starting from scratch or rebuilding after restructures. But a mission statement can't just sit on a wall—it needs to show up everywhere, from first slides to intranet pages, so people know what you stand for. We also tackled the vocabulary trap. Talking about "blended learning" doesn't land the way "reducing lost-time injuries" or "getting people back to work faster" does. Listen to what metrics matter to leaders, then connect your work to those outcomes in their language.
Here's the reality: you already have a brand whether you're managing it or not. Right now it might be "the tick-a-box people" or "the PowerPoint people." Changing that perception takes intentional action—sharing relevant articles with stakeholders, asking to give five-minute updates in meetings, contributing to projects outside L&D. And the biggest piece? You have to ask for visibility. Ask what people say about L&D when you're not in the room. Because no amount of branding fixes a disconnect if you're not part of the conversation.
So what's one step you can take this week to make your L&D work more visible?
Stay curious! -Shannon
Resources
Job Opportunity: Entry Level Instructional Designer Role at the University of Arizona
Jason’s Spotify Playlist after his prom chaperone experience!
If you found value in this week’s coffee chat, please take a minute to leave a Google Review. Your feedback helps others discover our events and keeps the Coffee Chats brewing (will include in email as well).
Books
The Complete SEO Guide: Boost Your Online Business Visibility with SEO by Andrea Bensaid
Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want by Alexander Asterwalder
Internal Branding: Growing Your Brand from Within By Jerome Joseph
Upskill, Reskill, Thrive: Optimizing Learning and Development in the Workplace by James McKenna
The Learning and Development Book: Change the way you think about L&D by Tricia Emerson and Mary Stewart
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